Category: Blog

We all have probably received those phone calls from the "IRS"--actually identity thieves/scammers who are looking to take as much money and assets from you that they can latch on to. Today--Monday, May 13, 2019--we were alerted to a new scam in our region, and this is one we want to make you aware of. A good friend and client of ours called to say that they had received a phone call from the "Social Security Administration". Not unusual, you say? This time, they were saying that the Social Security number has been suspended and they want you to VERIFY your Social Security number! In fact, Debbi—in our offices, also received the same phone call today as well. At Field Law, pc, we want to take the time to remind you…

Our world is being hit by unknown threats and uncertainty combined with fear. It is in the midst of this crisis that we begin to ask ourselves what matters most in life. We believe that faith, family, life and freedom are the fabric of our community. Here at the Field Law Firm, we work diligently to protect our clients’ legacies for future generations, and our work has never been more crucial. As we attempt to navigate these unprecedented times, we want to provide you with some helpful insights about estate planning and how you are affected by the current mandates. Therefore we will be sharing tips on estate plans, court closures, power of attorney documents, and much more. The Field Law team is inviting you to journey with us as…

The suspension of the Los Angeles Superior Court is the most pressing issues regarding your estate plan in this time. As of the date this article is posted, no civil issues can be brought to court until June 22nd at the earliest. Sadly, this date is a moving target, and there is no guarantee that you will be able to deal with necessary matters that involve the court. It is likely you believe this has little relevance to your life and current situation, but the implications of this decision can affect everything in your life if you do not have the proper Estate Planning documents in place. Without the necessary plan, individuals are dependent on the court system to authorize medical decisions and financial decisions for someone who is unable to handle…

Here at Field Law, family is one of our core values. Building your family is a joy, but it does require immense amounts of hard work to make sure your children are well taken care of. One of the more difficult parts about raising children is making a contingency plan in the event of your untimely demise. Making provisions like appointing a guardian and conservator for your child are a necessity to ensure that your child will be with someone you trust. Thankfully, this is one area where a Living Will is necessary and extremely helpful. Having either a will or guardianship papers will allow you to personally name a family member or close friend to be your child’s guardian. The person you choose will be tasked with making decisions for…

Here at Field Law, family is one of our core values. Building your family is a joy, but it does require immense amounts of hard work to make sure your children are well taken care of. One of the more difficult parts about raising children is making a contingency plan in the event of your untimely demise. Making provisions like appointing a guardian and conservator for your child are a necessity to ensure that your child will be with someone you trust. Thankfully, this is one area where a Living Will is necessary and extremely helpful. Having either a will or guardianship papers will allow you to personally name a family member or close friend to be your child’s guardian. The person you choose will be tasked with making decisions for…

We are in the middle of a global pandemic that is currently testing the quality of the health care systems of every nation. According to a press release in 2018 by the American Psychological Association, stress about medical issues and health care affects approximately 60% of all Americans, without a global crisis (Bethune and Lewan, 2018). One important way to combat this  stress is to make sure you have a Legacy Wealth Plan that includes a comprehensive Medical Power of Attorney. This document is also known as an Advanced Health Care Directive, and it protects you and your estate in case of illness and incapacitation. It accomplishes this by outlining your specific decisions and appointing a representative to make choices on your behalf. According to HIPAA guidelines, your successor trustee needs…

It’s graduation time! Even though the ceremony looked quite different this year because of COVID-19, it still means your “baby” is all grown up and preparing to head out into the real world. But, before your child (or grandchild!) plans to head off for college or pursues other endeavors, it’s important to think about a few life changes now that he or she is an “adult” in the eyes of the law. Blocked By HIPAA Laws From a legal standpoint, you may be surprised to learn that you now need written permission to make any important medical or financial decisions on your adult child’s behalf because of HIPAA regulations. For example, if your child needs medical records for college or an internship, you won’t be able to reach out to…

I am sure that images of doomsday preppers just flashed through your mind as you thought of trying to plan for something that seems irrelevant and a little out there. While having an emergency kit may seem absurd, there are countless reasons why you should have a contingency plan.   For starters, our nation is still in a pandemic. This crisis may have gone to the back of your mind as more chaos and trauma enters the world, but the virus has not disappeared. While not highly probable, it is still possible to contract COVID-19 and spend a few days in the hospital. Across the nation, COVID patients are in isolated wings where they are unable to have visits from their friends and family. In this scenario, having a bag with…

The 2020 Election Cycle did not come as a surprise to the millions of voting Americans. However, with everyone’s eyes fixed on who would be the Commander in Chief for the next four years, lawmakers and state governments attempted to catch citizens off guard with propositions that raised taxes while eliminating important processes that have benefited families.  In California, one such example is Proposition 19 which deals with Property Tax Transfers, Exemptions, and Revenue for Wildfire Agencies and Counties Amendment (2020). This piece of legislation is designed to raise taxes on inherited homes by eliminating the parent-child exclusion from reassessment under California Proposition 58.  Under the current law (as stated in California Propositions 13, 58, and 193), property tax rates on residential real property are calculated at a rate of…

This women’s history month, we want to take some time each week to share with you the story of an important women in U.S. History. Over the four weeks, the women we talk about may be familiar figures with unfamiliar stories and others may be people you’ve never heard of before! We hope that through sharing their story you will gain a new perspective on the women who have made significant contributions to the formation of this county.` First up, we have the poet Emma Lazarus who lived in the 1800’s. If her name sounds familiar, you might recognize her for her most famous work, “The New Colossus” a poem written in 1883 inspired by the Statue of Liberty. Her work was so moving that several lines are inscribed on…